Shloka 22
Adhyāya 128 — Proposal to Restrain Keśava; Sātyaki’s Warning and Vidura–Dhṛtarāṣṭra Counsel
न हि राज्यं महाप्राज्ञ स्वेन कामेन शक््यते । अवापुतु रक्षितुं वापि भोक्तुं भरतसत्तम
na hi rājyaṃ mahāprājña svena kāmena śakyate | avāptuṃ rakṣituṃ vāpi bhoktuṃ bharatasattama ||
ਹੇ ਮਹਾ-ਪ੍ਰਾਜ্ঞ, ਹੇ ਭਰਤ-ਸ਼੍ਰੇਸ਼ਠ! ਕੇਵਲ ਆਪਣੀ ਇੱਛਾ ਦੇ ਬਲ ਤੇ ਰਾਜ ਨ ਤਾਂ ਪ੍ਰਾਪਤ ਕੀਤਾ ਜਾ ਸਕਦਾ ਹੈ, ਨ ਉਸ ਦੀ ਰੱਖਿਆ, ਨ ਹੀ ਉਸ ਦਾ ਭੋਗ।
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Kingship is not a matter of personal whim: acquiring, protecting, and enjoying a kingdom require rightful means, sustained effort, and disciplined responsibility—implying restraint of desire and adherence to rajadharma.
In the Udyoga Parva’s pre-war deliberations, Vaiśampāyana delivers a reflective statement to a Bharata prince, emphasizing that political power and its fruits cannot be secured or maintained by mere desire, but demand prudent and ethical governance.